Smart Talk

Smart Talk is a daily, live, interactive program featuring conversations with newsmakers and experts in a variety of fields and exploring a wide range of issues and ideas, including the economy, politics, health care, education, culture, and the environment. Smart Talk airs live every week day at 9 a.m. on witf’s 89.5 and 93.3.

Smart Talk Friday is a fast-paced program featuring thoughtful and engaging conversations about the politics, policy and people who are shaping Pennsylvania’s future. Host Matt Paul and witf Capitol Bureau Chief Mary Wilson invite your multimedia interaction before, during and after the program.

Radio Smart Talk: Budget Secretary Charles Zogby

This is the busiest time of year at the state capitol in Harrisburg. The last few days before a fiscal year ends and a new one is set to begin has legislative leaders working overtime to win final approval of a new state budget.

The State House, with Republicans in the majority, has passed its own $28.3 billion plan, which is similar to the governor's. It increases spending on public education by $100 million and would cut business taxes by some $360 million. The Senate is now considering the House bill.

Corbett has also proposed privatizing state liquor sales, increasing funding for transportation infrastructure, and government and education worker pension reform. All three could have major budget implications.

Pennsylvania's Secretary of the Budget Charles Zogby appears on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk to provide an update on negotiations and the state's fiscal situation.

i would like to ask.....after almost 100years the state and school pension was over funded....why did the last 10 years did it end up the way it is? i am a state/school employee and there were times when the schools and state were funding the pensions at 15-20% of payroll then in the 2000's the state decided not to fund. the mistake was with the state and the schools if i am correct and this needs to be known.

A combination of factors have contributed to the situation we face today: a decade of essentially zero percent investment growth (including sevaral "major hits" to the stock market during the 2000s); pension benefit enhancements without a corresponding way to pay for those enhancements; and the actions of previous administrations and legislatures that arbitrarily underfunded pensions.

The systems were riding high following the tech boom of the 1990's. Both systems were more than 100% funded due to significant investment gains. Those gains quickly eroded in the wake of the terroist attacks, the credit crunch, and great recession. Combine that with nearly $6 billion in underfunding, and we are presented with the large unfunded liability we have today.

Thomas is correct there was a time in the 1980's when the state was making 12-15% contribution payments to the systems. However, this was short-lived. The spiraling growth in our pension obligations will reach about 30% of payroll and remain around that level for nearly 20 years if we don't take action to reform the system.

One thing nobody is willing to point out is that over the past couple decades, we have almost ALL moved to this style of retirement plan. However, the time has come for the free ride to end for government employment. We ALL should be on an even playing field. They should not be treated as a special, protected class simply because they work for the government.

Im sorry, but I don’t agree with the caller saying that it is all of the legislators fault. The teachers and state employees negotiated these salaries and benefits, so it is at least a 50/50 responsibility. I am frustrated by people that get 20 holidays a year, great medical benefits, etc complaining about their benefits that we all pay for and now failing to take responsibility for the promlem it has caused.